Water ski



April 11, 1939. R. SCHAUPP 2,153,939

WATER SKI Filed Aug. 10, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 k 1 l III I w I 2 g 9 6 f 7 5 7 I #1 L 7 N (P I I 7 7 Inventor Attorneys Patented Apr. 11, 1939 PATENT OFFICE WATER. SKI

Ralph Hill Schaupp, La Fayette, Ind.

Application August 10, 1937, Serial No. 158,407

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in water skis and has for one of its important objects to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character embodying novel propulsion means.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a water ski of the character described embodying means operable by the user for steering the device.

Still another very important object of the invention is to provide a Water ski comprising a construction and arrangement which is such that lateral movement in the water will be reduced to a minimum.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide novel means for slidably connecting a pair of skis together.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a water ski of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, reliable, light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a top plan view of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view.

Figure 5 is a side elevational View.

Figure 6 is a view in front elevation of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a pair of duplicate buoyant bodies I of any suitable material which are preferably of substantially the shape shown to advantage in Figs. 1, 4 and 5 of the drawings.

The bodies I are formed to provide substantially flat, straight opposed inner sides 2 having mounted longitudinally thereon removable inclined rods 3 which are detachably secured in position in any suitable manner, as at 4. Loops 5 are provided on the rods 3 for slidably connecting the bodies I together, the inclination of said rods 3 also causing vertical movement of said bodies relative to each other as they are alternately moved forwardly.

The bodies I further include substantially flat, straight outer sides '8 from the upper portions of which lateral wings I project. Hingedly 5 mounted for swinging movement in a horizontal plane on the flat outer sides 6 of the bodies I and beneath the wings I are flaps 8 in the form of plates of suitable material, preferably metal. Suitable stops 9 are provided for limiting the for- 10 ward swinging movement of the flaps 8 at a point substantially at right angles to the bodies I'. The flaps 8 constitute propulsion means and any suitable number of said flaps may be provided.

At an intermediate point the bodies I have formed therein wells or recesses III for the reception of the feet of the user. Mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane on metallic supports II in the wells III are foot rests l2. The supports I I are secured for rotation in a horizongo tal plane in the wells or recesses I0. Rudders I3 are provided on the rear ends of the bodies I and operatively connected to the foot rests I2 for actuation thereby through the medium of crossed wires, cables or the like I4. It will be observed that the cables I4 are connected, at one end, to the opposite sides of the foot rests I2. The bodies I are formed to provide rearwardly extending, streamlined projections I5 on opposite sides of the rudders I3 which act as guards for said rudders.

It is thought that the operation of the invention will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. The buoyancy of the bodies I is, of course, sufficient to support the weight of the user on the water. The user places his feet in the foot rest I2 and alternately moves the bodies I forwardly, substantially as when walking. As the bodies I are thus moved forwardly the flaps 8 swing inwardly against the sides 6 for reducing resistance to a minimum but upon the completion of .the forward movement said flaps swing outwardly until arrested by the stops 9 for resisting rearward movement of said bodies I in the water thereby retaining the forward gain made by one of the skis as the other is brought forwardly. As hereinbefore mentioned, the inclination of the rods 3 causes vertical as well as longitudinal movement of the bodies I when the invention is in use. By twisting his legs in a manner to turn the supports I I and the foot rests I2 the user may actuate the rudders I3 in a manner to control the direction of travel.

It is believed that the many advantages of a water ski constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A water ski comprising an elongated, buoyant 10 body having a well therein at an intermediate end portion of the body, and means operatively 5 connecting said rudder to the support for actuation thereby when said support is rotated in the Well.

RALPH HILL SCHAUPP. 

